aaamusic | On 10, Jun 2010

The Keys released their new album ‘Fire inside’ on See monkey Do Monkey Recordings 7th June 2010, It’s preceded by the Keys’ new single  ‘People Meet People’ released on the 24^th May. The Keys support the album with a very special ten-date UK tour.

They Keys are born from the ashes of John Peel favourites – Murry the Hump whose cult legend has just grown since their demise, Murry were once called the Best New Band In Britain by Alex James of Blur. The Keys are a mighty fine beat combo from Cardiff made up of five players, they have a fine pedigree on the local scene and well beyond, they’ve supported Love legend Arthur Lee, and newer acts like Sleepy Sun and the Noisettes.  They once even played a Christmas acoustic session in legendary John Peel’s house, more recently their infectious music has recently been played on Jonathan Ross’ Radio 2 show, Gideon Coe on 6Music and Adam Walton’s Sunday evening programme Mystery tour on Radio Wales. Last year’s ‘Le Mans EP’ proved that their angular, faux-psychedelia sounded more accomplished than ever, and deviated interestingly from the Murry template. At the end of 2009 it was followed by the Christmas EP, a diverse set of tracks lead by ‘Queuing Up For Christmas Time‘ a delightfully unassuming slice of Beatles-esque pop, a foot tapping, sleigh bell shaking, jaunt through the festive holiday period that will see you through the whole year!

The Keys’ new album ‘Fire Inside’ was self produced and recorded with the help of mixer Charlie Francis(R.E.M, The High Llamas) at their own studio that they share with local comrades El Goodo, the old Musicbox space in Cardiff. ‘Fire Inside’ shows the Keys’ progression as an act, they’re still informed by their classic 60s pop influences but now each piece is more melodic and subtle; swirled with psychedelic patterns: informed by cult legends like 13th floor Elevators, The Velvet Underground and the Jesus and Mary Chain, whilst imbuing each homespun recording with a personal warmth and experimentalism that is informed by modern artists like Panda Bear of the Animal Collective and Spiritualized band leader Jason Pearce. Corking new single ‘People Meet People’ is an addictive, hollering foot stomping garage rock groove that shows the sheer diversity of this new long player. Meanwhile the fizzing guitar riffs, cart wheeling rhythms, and effortless melodies of title track ‘Fire Inside’ redolent of The Sonics and The Zombies it twists into an instant Keys classic. The acid tinged desert fuzz of ‘Eyes of the World’ brings to mind the classic work of Can.  While the sumptuous California sun soaked melodies and twanging guitars of ‘Valley Sun’ and ‘Chemistry’ shows that the Keys are right up there with the Super Furry Animals and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci as purveyors of high quality Welsh guitar pop.

The Keys support the release of Fire Inside with a ten date UK tour and so far the following dates have been confirmed:

 30th May    Las Festival, Aberdare

3rd June     Album Launch @ Cardiff Arts (with Dirty Water Records DJs + support TBC)

18th June   Telford’s Warehouse, Chester – Adam Walton’s Pet Sounds night

19th June   Manchester (penciled in, awaiting full confirmation)

20th June   Dirty Water Club, London w/Thee Vicars

25th June   TBC

26th June   The Fleece, Bristol

1st July       Moles, Bath

23rd July    Headlining – Gower rock Festival, Swansea